An important step towards the circular economy in the industry: the hot-dip galvanizing specialist and Europe’s leading trailer manufacturer have entered into a strategic partnership to promote the circular economy. Schmitz Cargobull plans to gradually convert its products to circular quality and to document this in a traceable manner. The cooperation between the two companies begins with the development and implementation of a digital circular product passport (DCPP) for hot-dip galvanized steel chassis for trailers, which was originally developed by ZINQ as a prototype for metallic surfaces.
The partnership between Schmitz Cargobull AG and the ZINQ Group, which has existed for almost 25 years, has been expanded to include an important and forward-looking facet: Dr. Günter Schweitzer, Chief Operations Officer of Schmitz Cargobull, and Lars Baumgürtel, sole managing partner of ZINQ, have entered into a cooperation in the spirit of the circular economy: The overriding goal of the partnership is a common understanding of the relevance of transparent environmental data, its collection within the company and its transfer to downstream companies in the value chain. As a first step, the two partners will now launch a digital circular product passport (DCPP) in the field of vehicle construction.
EU sets the framework
A product passport makes it possible to measure and assess the circular quality of a product – as stipulated by the EU Ecodesign Regulation for Sustainable Products (EU-ESPR). The aim of the regulation is to improve traceability, the circular economy, energy efficiency and general environmental sustainability. A digital product passport (DPP) will be mandatory for certain product groups on the EU market from 2026. The DPP is a digital document that records all relevant data on the environmental impact of a product over the entire product cycle and along the entire value chain. The EU intends to gradually make the circular quality of all products placed on the internal market measurable and assessable with the help of DPPs, thereby ensuring greater transparency.
“The development of a cross-industry bottom-up standard for product passports in medium-sized industrial companies is a cornerstone for the implementation of the three objectives of the EU Green Deal,” emphasizes Lars Baumgürtel, Managing Partner of ZINQ GmbH & Co. KG.
This triple target, also known as Triple Zero, comprises the ambitions: Zero waste, zero CO2 emissions, zero pollution – all at the same time.
ZINQ on the way to the digital circular product passport
With the DCPP, ZINQ has developed a product passport approach based on existing, generally applicable standards and presented the prototype to the public at the end of 2023. The Digital Circular Product Passport adds reliable information on the hot-dip galvanized surface to the product life cycle.
“The DCPP should be applicable across all industries. It is being developed with a multi-stakeholder network for universal application in all conceivable sectors of the manufacturing industry,” says Lars Baumgürtel. “In order to drive the DCPP prototype forward, the participation of as many players as possible in the supply chain of hot-dip galvanized steel products is necessary. With Schmitz Cargobull AG, we have gained a committed partner in this future-oriented field, with whom we can jointly shape the circular transformation and implement the goals of the EU Green Deal.”
Advantages of circular products recognized early on Europe’s leading trailer manufacturer recognized the advantages of circular piece galvanizing surfaces such as ecoZINQ® or microZINQ® very early on and implemented them as an industry standard as part of product innovations. The results have been convincing for years, not only due to their functionality and durability, but also due to their ecological quality. This is because at the end of a trailer’s life, galvanized steel chassis can be returned to the complete recycling cycle.
“With the development and implementation of a digital circular product passport for trailers based on the DCPP prototype in the value chain of galvanized steel products, we are setting a benchmark towards a circular economy, which is our declared goal. We are delighted to be taking this pioneering step together with our long-standing partner ZINQ,” emphasizes Dr. Günter Schweitzer, Chief Operations Officer of Schmitz Cargobull.
Participation in funding projects
The DCPP will be implemented through the cooperation between Schmitz Cargobull and ZINQ in the DCPP network as well as direct or indirect participation in funding projects. “The partnership will decisively advance the development of circular products and surfaces in vehicle construction,” Lars Baumgürtel is convinced.
“As the implementation always affects all companies in the DCPP value chain, the race for Triple Zero for vehicle construction is on. This will not only increase the functional benefits of products such as trailers, but also the ecological benefits through product innovations.”
Years of partnership as the basis for future success
In 2001, ZINQ implemented hot-dip galvanizing of trailers for Schmitz Cargobull for the first time in series production as an alternative to painting, a common but environmentally harmful method of coating in vehicle construction. Almost one million tons of steel have now been galvanized as part of this partnership. Hundreds of thousands of trailers worldwide are in use with surfaces from ZINQ that protect the steel from corrosion for decades. And thanks to their long service life and optimum recycling properties, they have a positive CO2 balance and are “material healthy” – i.e. free from secondary microplastics.
“Our close cooperation over the past decades and the new strategic partnership is the ideal basis for continued success in the future,” emphasizes Lars Baumgürtel – and is striving for further cooperation in the spirit of the circular economy. “Our aim is to create a network of customers, suppliers, stakeholders and political players who work together to make the circular quality of products from all sectors traceable along the entire value chain.”
(Source: ZINQ Group)
